Small Talk: The Polygamous Cul-de-Sac

[MargeGunderson]

Where I live, some stores seem to be well stocked and others totally picked over. Trader Joe’s was out of a lot of things (all of the produce except artichokes and almost no dairy products) while the Fresh Market in the same area was decently stocked, other than some milk products and the bagged salads. The Whole Foods was fine. Same with Target, except for paper products. Target is limiting purchases of paper products and bottled water. Wegman’s is also limiting purchase of many things, including paper products, eggs, milk, bakery items (breads and rolls), packs of chicken and beef, and some canned goods. I do think that much of this is panic buying, and that once this initial wave passes it will even out. I’m hoping that the restricted hours will give the stores more time to restock. In every store I was in, employees were trying to put products on shelves but it was difficult with such large crowds of customers.

[Lovecat]

On 3/14/2020 at 11:50 AM, dreadfulLeigh said:

I had to go to the store for regular grocery shopping last night.

You know how sometimes you just feel really judgmental but you try to tell yourself to be kind and not think the worst if people? Well, if you want to bath in judgey judgement, just go to your nearest store. The guy in front of me had 7 gallons of bottled water and a gallon of cleaning vinegar lol. I was judging people left and right hahaha. But I wanted to do the cool head nod to the lady behind me, probably in her 60’s: her cart consisted of a single travel Pack of tissues, several packs of gum and a shit ton of snacks and candy. 

Also, there was no tp. People are ridiculous. 
 

 

My husband and I were at the store on Sunday.  I was standing in the produce section guarding the Guinness he had just bought* while he zoomed around picking up some produce items.  In the 3 minutes I was standing there, I saw one lady wearing disposable gloves scratch her nose and continue shopping...but it was that covert scratch/pick with the thumb thing.  Ma'am.  Wearing gloves is not going to help if you PICK YOUR NOSE.  In that same 3-minute period I saw another lady squeeze every single effing tomato in the display.  MA'AM.  STOP TOUCHING EVERY DING DANG THING.  I swear, people should not be let out in public unless they have some basic understanding of hygiene and infection control.  *[We're in PA; having beer in a grocery is a relatively new thing, and we still have to pay for it in a separate area.]

OTOH, I went out to a doctor appointment yesterday, and they couldn't have been more awesome.  They called me yesterday morning to check me in remotely, and when I arrived I had to call up before coming in.  I was met at the door and taken right back.  Temp check and questions re: symptoms, exposure, travels, and then I was cleared to see doctor.  He and I waved at each other, and then he did my full-body exam.  I was escorted out, and they'll send me a bill for the copay. (Yes, it was a dermatologist appointment, but before you judge me, please know that I am in remission from melanoma...I was on the fence about going, but it's not like I have a pimple or am getting a Botox injection...he's literally monitoring me for recurrence of a life-threatening disease, and it felt a little less non-essential, if that makes any sense.  Oh, and I got an all-clear, so huzzah!). Tomorrow I have an appointment to get my chemo port flushed, but since the folks at the infusion center are meticulous about hygiene on a regular day, I know I'm in good hands.  (Again, this visit is not completely essential; I'm to have my port flushed every 6-8 weeks to prevent a blood clot and could probably go a couple more weeks, but I also need labs drawn for Endocrine, so off I go).

One more dispatch from quarantine-land.  My husband and I got married two and a half years ago and both owned homes at the time.  Well, we decided to take our time combining households, and then I got cancer, so here we are still with both homes...though we're finally in the process of moving my crap into his place, my home office is still in "my" house, so I routinely "go to work" in the morning and "come home" in the evening.  He works at home, too, but for the time being we work at home in two separate places...all those people who rolled their eyes at us for being so slow to combine our households are now stuck telecommuting with their spouses under the same roof--who's laughing now, suckas?!?? 

[Kyanight]

17 hours ago, Meowwww said:

I went to Walmart today.  They were sold out of everything.  It was like an alternate universe.  Frozen pizzas were gone!

One of my sons called me last at 8:30 to tell me something (I can't remember what, lol) and in the conversation he tells me that a friend of his told him that the Walmart a ways up north of me had everything in stock - even toilet paper.  Well I've been to SIX stores trying to find a gallon of milk, so I grabbed my shoes and keys and out the door I went.   

Picture a store you've been to that has the LARGEST parking lot you've ever seen.  As I am trying to turn down the street to the store it looks like a line for a drive-in movie... with lines of cars all going to the same place.  EVERY spot in the damn lot is full with people driving around trying to fill spots where people are leaving.  I finally find a spot and can't go in the door because the self-checkout end of the store is closed and locked and manned with about 6 employees just standing there guarding it (I guess!)  I see tons of people coming out of the store with toilet paper in their shopping carts/water/tons of crap.  Hmmm... the hoarding mentality is CLEARLY still here.

I head to the milk first and yes - there were 3 gallons of milk.  I get a gallon and walk past where the toilet paper/paper towel SHOULD be (but it stretches on endlessly and it's empty), and there is a store employee with a cart of paper towels he is putting on the shelf.  I said, "Darn!  I was hoping for some toilet paper" and he said, "Oh I have some" - and he had TWO packages.  (Small packages.)  I took one of them and a person right behind me got the other.  The shelves were EMPTEEEEEE all over the grocery part of the store.  Did I mention BARE?   Like... TOTALLY picked over?

The woman checking me out and I chatted and she said it was SUPPOSED to be one package of toilet paper per customer, but people were finding ways around it.  Like filling a cart with toilet paper and having someone watch it and then coming back in the store again and again going through different lanes... and having their wife and each of their kids buy a package one after the other.  She said they can't do anything to stop that.  I was happy with my one roll, but how many people didn't get ANY?   Who needs THAT much toilet paper?

I know this is going to settle down eventually... but when?   If you want a loaf of bread, lunch meat, ANY meat, frozen foods, milk or EGGS in my city - forget it.  I haven't been able to find eggs anywhere for two weeks.   And pet food is disappearing.

On a weird note... I was kind of depressed before my son called and after this meager shopping trip I felt MUCH better.  Odd how a gallon of milk and a package of toilet paper can cheer you up.  ha ha ha!

[DakotaJustice]

it's the little things...

[suomi]

So retailers are refusing to set limits or enforce limits but sell out so quickly they have to cut back the hours they are open so they can re-stock? But cash registers are not ringing during those re-stocking hours? (1/3 of the day in my town). Totally makes sense to me. Not. 

The pisser is the certainty that retail grocery decision makers are not personally experiencing any shortages in THEIR homes. Oooff. 

[Absolom]

The stores have limits here like two boxes of cereal, one container of oats, 10 pounds of potatoes, two dairy items, etc.  If they have them then two cold items, one package of toilet tissue, one bottle of cough syrup, and so on.

[DakotaJustice]

It's just me and the cats - fortunately there are no cat-food shortages yet, but I have a 22 pound sack of kibble and ordered six dozen more cans of Fancy Feast from Amazon today - gotta take care of the babies first you know ❤️

[Kyanight]

30 minutes ago, Absolom said:

The stores have limits here like two boxes of cereal, one container of oats, 10 pounds of potatoes, two dairy items, etc.  If they have them then two cold items, one package of toilet tissue, one bottle of cough syrup, and so on.

Where are you, Absolom?

[Roslyn]

Quote

What about pasture raised organic?  I pay a lot for them and hope they have more Vitamin K2 than the others.  Having chickens sounds like it could be fun.  My best friend grew up on a farm and is deadly afraid of live chickens!!  Says they will "Peck your eyes out" given the chance.  Do we think the new Brown property will allow them a flock?

Pasture raised and organic will mean that the flock is raised on pasture, which can be any variety of field grasses or even meadows or woods.  Organic means that they are fed only organic certified feeds.  Those feeds are very expensive and so that will be reflected in the price of the eggs.  If you are pleased with the eggs, then continue to buy them and support those producers.  Any time I have bought eggs from other small backyard flocks I usually over pay for them.  I know how much work it is to protect and care for the birds and rarely do backyard prices reflect that. 

Chickens are fun to raise and very entertaining.  However, ever single thing out there.  Every wild animal, local dog, hawks that kill but can't carry a full sized bird away to eat it, heat waves and cars that just don't care there is a chicken in the road is out to get them.  Protecting them is the hardest part of keeping chickens.  While my local vet now sees birds (and I actually had one rooster who had the privilege of a vet visit), mass bred birds do not have a long lifespan and commercially bred breeds sometimes literally just drop dead for no apparent reason.

Interesting note from my memory of a PBS television show about putting modern people into the lives of homesteaders in the era of the Homesteading Act of 1862 (maybe 1865?). It was on tv around 2001/2002 ish and they had an authentic store set up for them to buy goods with the prices set at 1865 prices (based on actual records).  The cost of eggs at the 1865 price for one dozen was $1.20.  While we take eating chicken and eggs as "cheap" protein, in the past before battery raised birds, chicken was a luxury.

[Absolom]

11 hours ago, Kyanight said:

Where are you, Absolom?

Southern California.

[ginger90]

My cousin posted this today. It’s one of the few virus related posts that made me laugh.

[SongbirdHollow]

Question about bidets: aren’t they cold? Even if you hook it to hot water you’d have to run it a while, right?

[ehall1052]

9 minutes ago, SongbirdHollow said:

Question about bidets: aren’t they cold? Even if you hook it to hot water you’d have to run it a while, right?

Yes, the water can be cold. Where I live, Florida, it’s not a big problem because even in winter, our water stays on the warmer side.  But I know in the north, your water comes out of the faucet quite cold. So you may have to ask a plumber how to solve the problem.

[Teafortwo]

I have an idea. I learned today that if you have gmail, it is possible to set up a video conference. It can also be done on Zoom from any cell phone or computer. Free of charge. So I was wondering if any of you, my fellow posters, would like to try it? On Zoom you see people's first names but I believe on Gchat video it reveals your full name (unless maybe you use another handle for your gmail address). We could set up a time that works best for most. I know the Aussie's are 16 or 17 hours ahead of USA East Coast but...

[Meowwww]

Went back to the store today.  Actually 2 stores. STILL no toilet paper. No cleaners left except the “natural” ones. 
Minnesota is only testing health care workers, people in the hospital and people in group home settings like nursing homes. 
Hubby works for the MN Department of Corrections (in IT, not with the inmates) and they had a few offenders test positive before intake and have them quarantined. It’s going to hit the jail/prison population, AND the staff, hard. 
I work retail, I am a manager in a small family-owned pet food store. People are on edge lately. I’ve been yelled at more in the last week by customers than I have in years combined, even when I worked at a bank. And pet food and supply stores are happy places!  
People are also driving like extra-maniacs lately too. 
It’s a weird world out there.  Be safe and well, everyone. 

Edited March 18, 2020 by Meowwww
ETA the MN info...we live in far Western Wisconsin and we both work in MN.

[Kyanight]

20 minutes ago, Meowwww said:

work retail, I am a manager in a small family-owned pet food store. People are on edge lately. I’ve been yelled at more in the last week by customers than I have in years combined, even when I worked at a bank.

There's no excuse to be mean to people who don't deserve it.  I HATE that!

[Meowwww]

1 hour ago, Kyanight said:

There's no excuse to be mean to people who don't deserve it.  I HATE that!

Me too.  And when someone is upset at me, I start shaking. Crying even. I hate that I take it so personally.  
And lately, they’ve meant personal insults.  And want to fight.  Blah. 

Edited March 19, 2020 by Meowwww

[Kyanight]

This is so depressing.  The world right now.

[CalicoKitty]

10 hours ago, ehall1052 said:

Yes, the water can be cold. Where I live, Florida, it’s not a big problem because even in winter, our water stays on the warmer side.  But I know in the north, your water comes out of the faucet quite cold. So you may have to ask a plumber how to solve the problem.

You can buy them with a built-in heater.  Real fancy ones can come with a heated fan for drying.  There are many models, and prices.  It just depends on what you want to spend.

[Gramto6]

It is good to see stores are setting aside times for seniors only to come in and shop to avoid exposure.  We have to look out for those most at risk...sadly, I am in that category. I take so many precautions but who knows how it will come? I just keep telling myself, this too will pass and all will be back to normal at some point.

[Kohola3]

1 minute ago, Gramto6 said:

It is good to see stores are setting aside times for seniors only to come in and shop to avoid exposure.  We have to look out for those most at risk...sadly, I am in that category. I take so many precautions but who knows how it will come? I just keep telling myself, this too will pass and all will be back to normal at some point.

I hear you and feel am exactly in the same boat. I am taking every precaution possible but it will (seemingly) just take one slip by one careless person and I have no control over that.

I just talked to a friend visiting Florida and she said their condo was going to close the pool but the residents voted it down because "it's outside and they are treating the water".  She said everyone was just going about their business, having parties, shopping, etc.  How moronic can you be?  I guess that's why there are so many cases in Florida while in Michigan (at least so far) we have relatively few outside the urban area.  We're pretty much on lock down and our governor was really proactive in getting the message out.  But now all of the whitecaps are heading back north and their stupidity is going to start to impact us.  

It's kind of depressing not knowing how long this will go on, will it come back, will we EVER get back to what was once normal.  That and sheltering in place are getting on my last nerve.

[Jeanne222]

On 3/16/2020 at 9:22 PM, Kohola3 said:

Every time I am tempted to descend into the doldrums over this mess (which is way too often since we just started the cycle and it's only going to get worse before it gets better) I try to think of England during WWII with severe shortages AND daily bombings.  Time for me to buck up and soldier on.  

We have to be brave and strong.  This too shall pass.

I'm old so the other day I was thinking of I think 1962 and the Cuban Missile crises!  We all knew a missile was coming and we were going to die any moment!

We didn't did and here we are talking about it.A

I try to look on the positive side and think how lucky I am to be in my comfortable home and not confined to some room on a cruise ship!

It's going to be ok!

[Meowwww]

So.   There are posts all over Facebook of different individuals setting up shop roadside to sell the toilet paper they’ve hoarded. At highly inflated prices. With triumphant smiles and waves. 
These assholes make me murderous with rage. 
There are seniors out there on a limited budget who can’t find toilet paper on the shelves, who couldn’t shop when the news first came out due to the timing of their monthly income. What are they supposed to do?  
I am so angry at the hoarders.  

[deirdra]

Cops should charge these sellers, seize the overpriced goods and donate them to foodbanks and shelters.

Edited March 19, 2020 by deirdra

[Kohola3]

7 hours ago, deirdra said:

Cops should charge these sellers, seize the overpriced goods and donate them to foodbanks and shelters.

Our governor signed a bill making it illegal to inflate prices at this time.  They could be arrested here.

[DakotaJustice]

I was at Walgreens to buy hand cream (all that hand washing) and Sudafed (allergy season!) And note that they didn't have hand sanitizer but they now had signs up for disposable gloves and HS limiting to two each per person. 

And on my bike ride yesterday (we're allowed to go out to exercise as long as we practice social distancing) I was riding along the Bay Trail and saw that cruise ship - I think it's the Grand Princess? - still docked across the bay at the Port of Oakland. We don't see cruise ships, at least large ones, here in the SF Bay very often. 

[TurtlePower]

On 3/16/2020 at 4:27 PM, Kohola3 said:

I am pretty much doing that voluntarily but then I'm in the high risk old folks category. I do go out in nature, took a walk at the state park today. But I am avoiding stores as much as possible.  And no restaurants open so that's not an issue.

I'm avoiding stores as well but still marathon training. Some people are acting like they're chained to their couches when getting outside for walks is actually encouraged. 

Being on the spectrum, this social distancing is actually normal for me. Thank goodness everyone else is doing it so they don't look at me weird anymore. 

[Lovecat]

For those with anxiety and a fondness for aquariums, I highly recommend the Monterey Bay Aquarium's webcams!  Yesterday I caught a livestream from the penguin cam and learned a lot about my favorite birds while watching them hop about happily.  This morning I watched a MeditOCEAN with the Moon Jellies on YouTube--10 minutes of a calming voice guiding you through a meditation while the moon jellies blooped along peacefully.  If you're not into the woo-woo, turn the sound off; it's still super relaxing.  And best of all, OTTER CAM!!  I legit rolled around on my back, squeaking in delight.  

Link

[Roslyn]

I live as a hermit most of the time, so staying at home is my normal life.  The markets are insane and I am glad that I did a pantry inventory and a stock as soon as I saw that people were panic buying.  I knew it would hit my little town soon enough. The large markets are hit the hardest, I limit my purchasing to only fresh items early in the morning at a small local family owned market with a real in house butcher. 

This is usually when my husband gets very busy at work with a lot of overtime and weekend hours to volunteer for.  But instead his shop is laying some off and a few guys are braving some city jobs.  The problem being on the road is the chance of being trapped out of town with all that is going on in the big cities and many states starting curfews.  It hit hard when he told me he was taking the lay off, but at the same time, he isn't traveling right now.  At least with the lay off he is at home to become my garden work slave 😄

[Kohola3]

54 minutes ago, Roslyn said:

I live as a hermit most of the time, so staying at home is my normal life.

Somebody posted online the other day:  Introverts have been training for this their entire lives.  Made me chuckle.

[Kyanight]

2 hours ago, Lovecat said:

For those with anxiety and a fondness for aquariums, I highly recommend the Monterey Bay Aquarium's webcams!  Yesterday I caught a livestream from the penguin cam and learned a lot about my favorite birds while watching them hop about happily.  This morning I watched a MeditOCEAN with the Moon Jellies on YouTube--10 minutes of a calming voice guiding you through a meditation while the moon jellies blooped along peacefully.  If you're not into the woo-woo, turn the sound off; it's still super relaxing.  And best of all, OTTER CAM!!  I legit rolled around on my back, squeaking in delight.  

Link

THANK YOU!!  I have a question - why do jellyfish sting other creatures in the sea... but not each other?  Or do they get stung when they bounce off of each other?

[Lovecat]

10 minutes ago, Kyanight said:

THANK YOU!!  I have a question - why do jellyfish sting other creatures in the sea... but not each other?  Or do they get stung when they bounce off of each other?

Well.  I had to dust off my decades-old Biology degree, but my hunch that jellies had some mechanism to tell "like" (themselves or other jellies) from "non-like" (prey or threats) was correct, as confirmed by Mr. Google:  "Jellyfish have chemoreceptors that turn the nematocyte [the stinging cells] on or off... If the receptors pick up the chemical signature of the jellyfish's own species, nothing happens. Everything else is assumed to be potential prey (or, at least, a potential threat) and, thus, worth firing upon."

Edited March 19, 2020 by Lovecat

[Kyanight]

1 minute ago, Lovecat said:

Well.  I had to dust off my decades-old Biology degree, but my hunch that jellies had some mechanism to tell "like" (themselves or other jellies) from "non-like" (prey or threats) was correct, was confirmed by Mr. Google:  "Jellyfish have chemoreceptors that turn the nematocyte [the stinging cells] on or off... If the receptors pick up the chemical signature of the jellyfish's own species, nothing happens. Everything else is assumed to be potential prey (or, at least, a potential threat) and, thus, worth firing upon."

Thanks!!  They are fascinating to watch!  I tried to watch the otters (the two wild ones) but they weren't on the camera much so I watched some sharks.. an awesome stingray rolled by!

[xwordfanatik]

1 hour ago, Kohola3 said:

Somebody posted online the other day:  Introverts have been training for this their entire lives.  Made me chuckle.

I like that!  My first delivery order from Costco arrived today.  Based on the around-the-building people that were there before Sunday's opening, I figured paying a little more was well worth it.  Luckily, I was not out of TP, as there didn't appear to be any when I placed my order.  

I won't be too disappointed if I can't go on my planned vacation in July.  Some stuff just isn't all that important, after all.

[Rabbit Hutch]

As truckers me and hubby are used to seeing all kinds of cray-cray while on the road, but it's ramping up.  I also can check off more than one box when it comes to those with weakened immune systems, so I told my DH to take me home for a couple of weeks and swe'll see what's what, then. 

Between the truckstops trying to feed drivers, yet keep their own employees safe, other truckstop employees staying home due to schools being closed, or their own health issues,  longer and longer lines at customer docks, or customers not wanting to give up their empty containers, with my being terrified to go into rest stop and truckstop restrooms, and not trusting hotel chains to properly clean their rooms, it's better for me to remain at home.  Less stress for me that way, although now I have more time to worry about hubby.  🙃

One thing I heartily wish is that families would stay out of the truckstops.  We don't go to Loves or Pilot during Christmas due to this, for whenever I get around kids in the winter I immediately catch some sort of respiratory infection.  🤧😷 I love kids but jeez Louise, i get really sick!

Unfortunately, now I'm seeing more and more families at the real "truckers'" truckstops.  I want to see this part of the supply chain remain up and running during this time of hardship for our country.  I know the kids are bored but please think of others.  😊  

See what I do with this free time, I vent and read forums!  Well, at least it takes my mind off of hubby for a minute.   😁

[Kohola3]

I have been watching webcams of all different types.

San Diego Zoo which is closed but you can see the animals by camera.

And Explore.com has webcams of all types from all over the world. I check in on the Decorah eagles every day.

[Kohola3]

3 minutes ago, Rabbit Hutch said:

Unfortunately, now I'm seeing more and more families at the real "truckers'" truckstops.

Could this be because fast food places are closed to inside ordering so there is nowhere that a bathroom is available?  Just a thought, I was talking to a snowbird heading home from Florida and she seemed to be unaware the significance of planning. I told her to bring food and watch for rest stops, there will be no potty breaks as a McDonalds.

[Rabbit Hutch]

15 minutes ago, Kohola3 said:

Could this be because fast food places are closed to inside ordering so there is nowhere that a bathroom is available?  Just a thought, I was talking to a snowbird heading home from Florida and she seemed to be unaware the significance of planning. I told her to bring food and watch for rest stops, there will be no potty breaks as a McDonalds.

Could be, but there are the rest areas, and although many fast food joints have dt only, there are many that offer togo service on the inside so customers can order and potty, but can't hang around.  Last week we had a nephew who traveled to be in a competition 3 states away (much to me and hubby's chagrin) and they found restaurants such as these, but then again, that was last week.  😉

I also wonder what's going to happen if the virus breaks out in a truckstop, then are those remaining food places going to shut down, also. We personally carry plenty of food, meds, sanitizer, paper towels, lysol, etc. on the truck, but we still have to use the facilities, shower, fuel, take care of paperwork, get truck supplies, get repairs done, etc.  However, many, many drivers eat at these places.  It's really hard to park a rig at a local eatery. I like to see one park at Chicken Salad Chick.  Hmm, maybe even mine.  👀 😁

Agree with you, though.  One would think that snowbirds would know enough to plan ahead.

[deirdra]

5 hours ago, Kohola3 said:

Somebody posted online the other day:  Introverts have been training for this their entire lives.  Made me chuckle.

I was thinking the same thing; since Day 2 of staying-at-home, mental health experts have been all over TV and newspapers giving advice on how to cope. Introverts might take over the Earth when this is all over. I was thrilled that my library books' due dates were pushed to April 30th.

Snowbirds are often creatures of habit who stop at the same gas stations and McD pitstops when they travel the same routes.

Edited March 20, 2020 by deirdra

[dreadfulLeigh]

We’re in PA. Honestly, after staying home, isolating with 2 young children and a tiny preemie baby this summer/fall, it’s not all that different. Granted my husband is still going out for his job but it’s not around to many people. I’m not one to panic or become untethered in times of crisis, but I do feel quite wary of my immunosuppressed state and other risk factors. NotTo mention my 8 mo who was born with lung disease from being premature. (Although he’s deliciously chunky now lol). 

Now the governor has tightened up the shutdown of all nonessential businesses, and you feel people’s realization that this is a Big Damn Deal and we need to stop minimizing it. 

[Kohola3]

5 minutes ago, dreadfulLeigh said:

Now the governor has tightened up the shutdown of all nonessential businesses, and you feel people’s realization that this is a Big Damn Deal and we need to stop minimizing it. 

You mean it's not a hoax? That's what Fox News said!

[dreadfulLeigh]

Just now, Kohola3 said:

You mean it's not a hoax? That's what Fox News said!

I made the mistake of reading the comments on our local newspaper fb post. YOURE INFRINGING ON MAH RIGHTS!! You SEE HOW THEIR TAKING OUR RIGHTS AWAY!!

Like, calm down there, man. Maybe if all you toilet paper hoarding, blackmarket sanitizer profiteering, “its allA hoax!!” numpties had taken it seriously last week, we wouldn’t need to have the big ol’ gupment make you not be an idiot. 

[Meowwww]

Well, 2 people in Wisconsin have died today due to the virus. A man in his 50s and a man in his 90s. 
How about those spring breakers partying?  Ugh. 

[dreadfulLeigh]

3 minutes ago, Meowwww said:

Well, 2 people in Wisconsin have died today due to the virus. A man in his 50s and a man in his 90s. 
How about those spring breakers partying?  Ugh. 

We live a few blocks from the hospital that has the first 2 confirmed cases in our county. The one is hospital staff who they say was exposed outside the hospital in the community. Yay. 

[Kyanight]

23 minutes ago, dreadfulLeigh said:

Now the governor has tightened up the shutdown of all nonessential businesses, and you feel people’s realization that this is a Big Damn Deal and we need to stop minimizing it. 

Exactly.  Only a VERY stupid person would hear about State shut downs... businesses forced to close, the stock market plunging... store shelves emptying - and think it's a big deal about nothing.  I thought college kids were smarter than that - but judging by the videos I have seen online of these twits partying in Florida - I guess not.   

I made the mistake of reading a few personal stories by people who were very ill with this virus and recovered.  Damn scary!!  I panic when I can't breathe.  I think I am going to pass on getting this, TYVM.  😄

[Mittengirl]

If you can find goat’s milk soap, it is much gentler on your skin than the “regular” soaps.  Not nearly as drying, which is nice when washing your hands 27 times a day.

Paper products were still in short supply at the store today, as were breads/buns. No rice at all, just 2 lonely bags of quinoa.  Also flour, sugar and eggs were nonexistent.  I guess people are baking?

The local stores are announcing “old people” shopping hours, but that are all starting at 7 a.m.  I get the logic - clean, well stocked stores - but the only way my 91 year-old mother and her friends would be able to get out at that hour is if they woke up at 4 a.m.  To say they are slow to get going in the morning is an understatement.

Why are people buying bottled water?  Am I missing something there?

[Sandy W]

I went to a bulk food store today to pick up some seasonings and they were really well stocked with many pastas, rice, dried beans, flour, sugar ... all the basics.  I chatted (at a distance) with a clerk and he told me that the only thing they had run out of was powdered milk, both whole fat and skim that people were buying to use in their bread machines (if you are using one, most recipes can substitute regular milk for the water and powder).  If you are not able to find dry staples at your regular grocery store, maybe check out the bulk food stores.

Another thing, they presented customers entering with a box of plastic gloves you could just pluck out like kleenex, then a bin to discard them as you exited the store.  Nice touch.

[Kyanight]

42 minutes ago, Mittengirl said:

Why are people buying bottled water?  Am I missing something there?

I haven't seen eggs here in weeks.  Flour, sugar, milk, and more is SO hard to find!

Before the Coronavirus came to the United States I saw pictures of a crew in hazmat suits in China spraying down the streets with chemicals to kill the virus.   I thought maybe people were buying bottled water in case the chemicals happened to get into the water supply, but that's not the case.  I googled it and this is what came up:

 

A quickly spreading and potentially deadly pandemic is frightening and impossible to predict, said Farley, and some people may engage in “panic buying” as a means of reclaiming some feeling of power and control over their feeling of safety.

“It’s about ‘taking back control’ in a world where you feel out of control,” Paul Mardsen, a consumer psychologist at the University of the Arts London, told CNBC.

It’s no surprise that water and toilet paper are the first to sell out, said Farley, because in many people’s minds they are two things that are most fundamental to normal bodily function.

“Water is key for human life,” said Farley. “So we shouldn’t be surprised that people want to build up a stock of water.”

Edited March 20, 2020 by Kyanight

[Gramto6]

8 hours ago, Kohola3 said:

Somebody posted online the other day:  Introverts have been training for this their entire lives.  Made me chuckle.

Yep, hermit here and this is just normal life for me...I stock up and can probably weather 3-4 weeks home before I have to go out. One problem is I am diabetic (70 yrs old) and have to go out to the PO to pick up my test strips. I'm hoping under these unusual  circumstances my PO box  item can be delivered to my home mailbox so I don't have to go out.

I live in MT and so far we only have 12 diagnosed cases. That said I am sitting right here in my house and not going anywhere I don't have to go. If everyone really seriously practiced social distancing we might just come out of this on the other end safe and healthy.

[suomi]

This is happening in my town. Twenty restaurants are participating, no chains thus far, truly the "locals." We are picking up groceries at WalMart this evening and will order in for lunch.

https://www.cachevalleydaily.com/news/archive/2020/03/18/local-restaurants-team-up-to-promote-local-delivery-and-take-out-options/#.XnR03R5MFdY